Bamber Bridge 2-2 Lancaster City

Lancaster City were minutes away from an away win at Bamber Bridge.

Published:16:48Monday 16 November 2015

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Lancaster City were denied what would have been an impressive away win after coming from behind but ultimately had to settle for their second point of the season against local rivals Bamber Bridge in tough conditions.

Regan Linney put the hosts ahead early on before Gav Clark levelled and City completed the turnaround eight minutes from time as Ryan Winder was once again on target, but Sam Joel deservedly got himself on the scoresheet to deny the Dolly Blues.

The visitors continued their recent habit of conceding an early goal as Linney found himself one on one with Mike Hale too easily after a flick on, calmly rounding the the keeper before sliding home in the third minute.

Bamber Bridge’s main threat was the impressive Blackburn Rovers’ loanee Sam Joel on the left hand side, who along with Curtis Thompson blazed over in promising positions.

Gavin Clark did very well for City’s equaliser, marauding up from full back to reach the box before exchanging passes with Zach Clark and firing through Lee Dovey in the Brig goal.

The most controversial moment of the first period came when a Lancaster set piece resulted in a scramble and a possible handball as a Brig player laid on the ball while Ricky Mercer found himself in an incident with Paul Alexander.

As that blew over the hosts countered, Mike Hale denied Sam Joel and Curtis Thompson had a penalty shout at the expense of Gavin Clark turned down.

Either side of the break Hale kept the Dolly Blues in the game again, stopping Paul McKenna from a free kick and a header from Brett Ormerod who should have done better.

Both teams applied good pressure in the second half, Charlie Russell headed over from Zach Clark’s cross for Lancaster and the latter found himself just beyond the ball as Winder reached the byline and fizzed across goal.

Linney came close to putting Brig ahead once more but his header from Ormerod’s cross clipped the crossbar.

Twelve minutes from time a good City move resulted in what looked like would be the winner. Russell had options and decided to spray to the right hand side where Winder found half a yard and once again hammered across goal but the ball this time evaded Dovey and found itself in the top corner.

Phil Brown’s two substitutes combined for an opportunity to kill the game, Danny Carlton whipped a first time pass over the top to Terry Cummings but he was denied by the legs of Bowen.

That proved to be pivotal as City failed to clear three minutes from time and Sam Joel coolly capitalised.